Reason for Kindness (ANB Neil Fanfic)

Chapter 8: The Wrath of Neil

I wake up the next morning with a bright smile on my face. Last night I had set out all of the supplies to make a cake for Neil. My preference is chocolate, so I had decided to make a chocolate cake.

I head toward the kitchen and get to work on making Neil's cake. I smile as I imagine his reaction. Nobody has probably ever made something like this for him before, so I'm sure that he will be surprised. I hum as I mix the contents in the bowl. Once the batter is made, I put the cake in the oven.

I open the door to do my chores while the cake bakes, but as soon as I swing it open, a raindrop falls onto my nose. I stare up at the sky to see dark gray clouds, just now starting to open up and sprinkle. Sighing, I pull on my hood and trudge to the barn. Neil and Rod don't open up shop when the weather is bad, so I'll have to deliver it to Neil at his home.

I finish my chores in record time and sprint inside to check on the cake. It's almost done, so I wait for the oven to go off before I check on it. The sweet chocolate aroma fills the kitchen when I open the oven door, and I excitedly take it out and set it on the counter. Once I put it on a plate and cover it in tinfoil, I pick it up and head to Neil's house.

The rain starts to fall harder as I walk down the path. Even the wind is starting to pick up, and the clouds have grown dark enough that a thunderstorm might arrive soon. I need to deliver this cake and get back before it starts to lightning.

I reach Neil's house and knock on the door. Hopefully he's home, otherwise I'll have to track him down. Thankfully, I hear shuffling inside and an irritated Neil swings open the door.

"What is...oh, Yuki. Hi." He says after realizing it's me.

"Hi Neil." I smile, and he stares at me with a confused expression.

"What are you doing here? It's raining."

"I know. I just wanted to bring you something."

I reveal the cake that I had been holding behind my back. Grinning, I show it to him. Neil stares at it, but his expression darkens. I tilt my head, confused as to why he doesn't look shocked or happy as I had imagined.

"What is this?" He mutters. I take off the tinfoil and hold it out to him more.

"It's just chocolate cake, see? I made it for you this morning."

"I don't want it." He bluntly states, staring at the cake in disgust.

"What?!" I exclaim. His reaction is a bit different from what I was expecting..."Why don't you want it?" I ask sadly. Does he think I'm a bad baker?

"I hate cake. Give it to someone else." He turns away and slams the door, leaving me standing outside in the rain. I'm shocked, my mouth slightly agape and my eyes large. He...doesn't like cake?

"Who doesn't like cake!" I shout at his door, frustrated. I loudly bang on his door. I'm not leaving now!

Neil doesn't answer the door, so I bang again. This time, he swings it open once again and glares at me.

"Go away, Yuki. I don't want your cake!" I feel myself boiling with anger. I'm too stubborn to let him slam the door in my face again without taking this cake.

"I spent all morning making this for you." He tries to close the door again, but I balance the plate on one hand and catch the door with my other. "You're taking this cake Neil!"

"Just give it to someone else, for goodness' sake! I said that I don't want it!"

I glare at him and shove the cake into his hands.